Firefighters establish containment area for Hurst Fire in Sylmar
SYLMAR, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) -- Progress is being made Thursday in Sylmar's Hurst Fire as fire crews were able to minimize fire burn overnight, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.
The rapidly expanding blaze was first reported around Tuesday night in the 15900 block of W. Yarnell Street and quickly grew to 850 acres Wednesday evening, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 residents, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.
California Highway Patrol officers who witnessed the flames said that an entire mountainside appeared to be burning.
As of 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Cal Fire reported that the fire was 10% contained, where it remains Thursday.
LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the Hurst Fire is burning in the footprint of the historic footprint of the 2019 Saddle Ridge Fire, which burned nearly 9,000 acres. She said Thursday that "Firefighters held the containment within a pinned containment area and are successful, and we have established a perimeter."
Cal Fire said crews managed several flare-ups in the fire's footprint. "Firefighters have successfully contained the fire north of the I-210 Foothill Freeway, establishing control lines extending to Santa Clara Divide Road."
Early Wednesday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced that they had secured federal assistance through the Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"We are working vigorously to ensure maximum support for firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, including the Hurst Fire, which is now threatening San Fernando and Newhall," Newsom said in a statement.
Evacuation orders and road closures
Evacuation orders were issued for people living north of the I-210 Freeway from Roxford to the I-5/SR-14 Freeway split, firefighters said.
Westbound lanes of the 210 Freeway were closed due to the smoke being produced by the fire, creating considerable traffic in the area. All lanes were finally reopened on Wednesday.
Just south, in Sun Valley, another fire was reported after starting at a commercial building that quickly spread to nearby brush. That blaze forced temporary closures of I-5 in the area.
Evacuation warnings were issued for residents near the 5 Freeway close to Woodley/Balboa to Lahey Street to Zelzah Avenue.
Firefighters told residents in that area to "prepare to evacuate" because of the fire.
An evacuation center has been opened at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, which is located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima. Other evacuation centers have been established at Northridge Park at 10120 Reseda Boulevard and the Sepulveda Recreation Center at 8825 Kester Avenue.
